We've been seeing pajaki chandeliers all over the internet lately (we've seen them on Oh Happy Day and Design Sponge, just to name a few!) and have been dying to make our own. These gorgeous paper chandeliers originated in Poland. we made our own with tissue, paper and wooden straws. It's a fun project that can be completed in a few hours. Katie and I both made one. Here's how it's done…
Supplies: metal hoop, tissue paper, colored cardstock, tacky glue, wooden straws, gauze fabric, fringe scissors (optional), washi or masking tape Step 1: Cut tissue paper into long strips. Layer 3-4 pieces and cut with fringe scissors. Step 2-3: Take a pencil and roll the fringe strips around it. Tape the end up with washi tape or masking tape. Repeat until you have your desired amount of flowers and set them aside. Step 4: Cut thin strips of gauze fabric and wrap around the hoop. After it is completely wrapped, apply a layer of glue with a paint brush to smooth down the frayed edges. This part is optional, but will give your project a more polished look. Step 5: Cut the wooden straws into 1-1.5" sections. Lace the straws and flowers (cut from colored cardstock) on a string tied to the hoop. Continue until you have reached your desired amount of strands (ours have 7 & 8 strands around the hoop). Step 6: Once you have finished all of your stringing, apply the flowers with a needle and thread. Make sure to hide or cut the washi tape off. Add as many flowers as you want!
These chandeliers are delicate and pretty. They make great decorations for a window at home or a party! What I love most is that you can make then in any combination of colors. Do you want to make one now? Try it… you'll enjoy it!
xo. Elsie
82 Comments
Oh I love these! I would have mine up all the time.
These are perfect for summer! Where do you get all these ideas?!
Love this sooo much… definitely trying it out!
http://run2thewild.blogspot.com/
Can not wait to try this. They are so fun and festive.
Elsie, it’s great that you’ve made Pajaki, but what this article is missing is information about Pajaki and how they relate to Polish folk art. Pajaki come from a culture and are not just a pretty thing. They are a part of a folk art that has been around for almost 200 years.
Sare,
Awesome! We’d love to read more about this! Do you have any links or recommendations for information sources?
xoxo. elsie
That is so fun! Now I need to find someone to make that for me:)
http://sequinsandpolkadots.blogspot.com/
I absolutely love this! I can’t wait to make it.
โฅ Carmen
Wow those are stunning! I would love to learn more about the meaning of them ๐
http://inspiredsoulblog.com
Yes, matter of fact, I do! Love these! Thanks for sharing.
xo
Josi
Lovely as always! I love the pretty light coming through the window.
Carlee
http://almostendearing.blogspot.com/
Such an awesome project. They look lovely paired together.
I love that. It is really cute. I would love to have that for a room change or a theme gathering. Awesome idea.
AHHH, this is adorable!! I absolutely adore the colors and I cannot wait to try this! I think it’d also be super cute to make the poms and then just make a banner with them! <3
Wow that is a cool light!
Carina xx
http://carstina.blogspot.co.nz/
I love all the projects you two post!
However, I was wondering if you guys could post some ideas on graduation gifts?
I have friends graduating soon and i’m already using some of your crafts ideas as gifts but I wanted to know if you two had anything specific in mind as to what to give as gifts!
I would love to see a post on that. ๐
Cheers,
Allison
I live in Poland and I’ve never heard of these things ;D funny how one can learn something about their weird country from Americans!
Anyway, their name “Pajaki” is actually written “Pajฤ ki” and it means “Spiders” ๐
Great blog, I visit every day. Greetings from Poland ๐
This is amazeballs and I can’t wait to try it!
this is fantastic – adorable!
grace
http://herumbrella.com
I am gonna try making one during Diwali (Indian Festival)!!We make lanterns and lit the whole damn house. this would be very unique and different from the rest. damn cute!! Thanks for sharing.
This is such a great simple idea!
http://talisatalksbeauty.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/loccitane-almond-shower-oil.html
They look so lovely. Awesome diy idea ๐
xx
Mira
Wow, that looks really really amazing. Perfect idea and that colors.. That looks so original. You made a great job.
http://www.fashiondenis.com/
Perfect for celebrating Spring!
http://www.thesquisseur.com/
These chandeliers are so pretty! I want to make one for my daughters un-birthday-party I’m planning for May…and afterwards hang it up in her nursery!
Thanky you!
super pretty! I need to get my DIY on ๐
This looks lovely…
These are so fun and summery, love it! And I’d love to know about the culture behind them ๐
this would be cute for a baby room ๐
http://iamturquoise.com
There are beautiful! I guess you need a lot of patience to make them…
“Pajฤ ki” in polish means “spiders”. They were traditional decoration in Poland, hung on ceiling during Christmas time. They were made from straw, beans, peas, feathers, wool, later also from paper. You can find some nice photos on this site:
http://wiano.eu/article/978
this diy is so cute!!! I love it!!!
DIY on my BLOG… http://www.thestelstyle.com
They’re so pretty. Love them both ๐
Cathy
Turquoise Flamingo
http://www.turquoiseflamingo.com/
Lovely!! xx
http://www.creativityandchocolate.com
Amazing idea !!
http://www.thestilettoholic.com/
Love from Paris
Pretty nice ๐
So colorful and fresh!! Lovely idea!!!
http://blackreddots.blogspot.gr/2013/04/chasing-buttons-at-school.html
just love this! defiantly going to attempt! just moved into a new place and go excited when i saw this! thanks!
Stunning! We love these pretty details ๐ xx
such a nice Work….
Great Job
So cool!
http://davrilpoisson.blogspot.com/
That chandy is beautiful, I love how it plays with the light!
I love the way those look – have a stash of colored tissue paper and am definitely going to make one of these!
Absolutely lovely. We have a big Polish community where I live and I might have to ask a couple of them about these. They look beautiful. Thanks for sharing. ๐
FYI: We (I’m a polish girl) write it with silly letter “ฤ ”
singular: Pajฤ k [spell “payonck”]; plural: pajฤ ki [payonckie]
and “pajฤ k” means “spider” in polish ๐
there are 2 main types of them in Poland, yours is ลowicki pajฤ k, there is also kurpiowski type. kurpiowski pajฤ k takes the whole ceiling and looks like this:
http://wiano.eu/images/pictures/0013400/0013285.jpg
http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plik:Chata-kurpiowska-pajak.JPG
I will definitely be using these for my next get together!
http://sevendaysaweekblog.blogspot.com/
These are awesome! They would look gorgeous hanging from trees in a garden wedding. Or a summer garden party too. Very fun and funky. Thanks for the inspiration.
Michelle
x
Ahhhhh I love this!!!! I want to make it ASAP!
Wow!! Of all the DIY interior bits I love on here I think these are my favourite! So sweet and pretty. Definitely going to have a go at this!
Nancy | http://siddalee-lifestyle.blogspot.com
Love it!!!! ๐
Wow, these are gorgeous!
this is the cutest and would make a great wedding decor item
kw, ladies in navy Zara giveaway Gap/Old Navy Giveaway”
How neat! I’m Polish (only partially) but I can’t wait to make one of these for my craft room!
Elsie,
Check out Polish papercutting – Wycinanki. The chandeliers come from it. Popularity started in the 1800’s– with an impoverished peasant class that wanted to decorate their homes but didn’t have a lot of resources to do so. Hey! DIY!
These would have traditionally been made for Christmas- the Wigilia celebration– or Easter– typically present in Catholic homes. You’ll see some of the same motifs in other Central European folk art.
My grandmother was Polish and was invested in carrying on some of those traditions as part of her heritage– which was good, because she made the worst pierogi I’ve had in my life! ๐
Perfect for a hawaiian theme party. I saw it yesterday on instagram, so pretty!
Xo. Elba
live colorful
So gorgeous and perfect for summertime! So unique!
xoxo
Juliette Laura
juliettelaura.blogspot.com
Wow, I’ve never heard or seen these before! But now that I have, I definitely want to make one! xx
http://thehonestfox.blogspot.com
This is so lovely ๐
This reminds me of Mulan(you know, the badass princess from Disney) for some reason.
Beautiful photos!
these are stunning! I will totally be making some of these.
Zoe
http://gypsiesister.blogspot.co.uk
I want to make one now! These looks so fun and colorful. Perfect for filling up rooms with higher ceilings.
these are so cool!! I really can’t wait to make them!
They look so cute!
http://seasidebeauty.blogspot.com/
These are gorgeous! Wow.
Wow, that is just amazing! I will definitely try it!
It looks adorable! lovely DIY Elsie.
http://sincerelylara.com
GORGEOUS! Speaking of chandeliers….my DIY was just featured on the Honest Co. Blog. Check it out: http://blog.honest.com/upcycled-nursery-chandelier/#.UXmkdk9myGp
Hi Elsie,
First of all I’d like to say that I really like your blog and have been a daily reader since early 2011. I think this DIY that yourself and Katie made is really pretty and the photos are beautiful but it’s nearly a bit unnecessary that it needs to even BE a DIY article seeing as you have linked to Oh Happy Day which also gives the steps.. I think it would be lovely just as a ‘look what I made’ post with a brief mention of how you did it slightly differently as I suppose most people would change things up a little when crafting. I know I do depending on materials I have available and techniques I like to use. I also agree with some of your commenters requesting info on the background history of these ornaments- something which Design Sponge did well ( you could even have mentioned that in your link?)
While running around the internet I spotted one of these hiding in a photograph!! Turns out the chandeliers look just as good in grey!
http://brooklyntowest.blogspot.com/2012/05/transitional.html
These are gorgeous! Thanks for the how to!
Bloomability
Perfection. I’m making at least 2 or 3 for our living room to give it a little extra flare ๐ <3
http://terynskye.blogspot.com
This is fun! I’d like to try.
beautiful! what a fun project. ๐
itsrainingblueumbrellas.blogspot.com
They are so pretty, good job! ๐ If someone was curious how to pronounce pajฤ ki (which is plural and one is pajฤ k), it’s close to pie+on+key. The second syllable is accented.
People used to belive they bring hapiness, good luck and most of all good harvest. I think I’ll write a post about them some time soon, since it’s hard to find any info in English over the net. I’ll let you know ๐
So pretty. ๐
I am definitly going to make this right away! I am wondering though where you got some of the supplies? like the wooden straws and metal hoop. Thanks for the help!
I lovelovelove this! I’m off to make some right now! ๐
When I first saw them, I was like “Nah, not so much. Thanks anyway.” But the more I looked at them, the cuter they became… Somehow they tricked me into loving them. Now I know how I’ll be spending my Saturday!
I really wish my hubs would let me put decor, like this, up!
I love these! Could you tell me what size metal hoop you used for yours? Thanks so much!
Katy, appx 8 inches and 12 inches. ๐
Some of the materials needed to make these are on thestrawshop.com along with videos of how to. Lots of pictures for inspiration as well: http://thestrawshop.com/himmeli/
ash wedge sneakers is good shoes.